Boston 2024 Can Learn From Atlanta Olympics -- Media Watch

(ATR)Boston's NPR affiliate station, WBUR, says Boston can learn a lot from the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

WBUR reporter Curt Nickish says that considering the debate over a potential Boston Olympic bid, his interview with former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin might seem crazy.

"I don't know anybody in Atlanta who didn't think the Olympics were good," Franklin says.

"Were they perfect? No. I don't know anyone who thought it was bad for Atlanta."

Before becoming mayor of Atlanta in 2002, Franklin worked on the organizing committee for the 1996 Olympics.

Franklin warns that what worked for Atlanta may not work for Boston. "After all," Nickish points out, "Boston in 2015 is a very different city than Atlanta in 1996.

"It's a little bit like comparing apples and peaches."

However, Franklin says Bostonians should ask themselves whether the Games will benefit the city as much as she believes the 1996 Olympics benefited Atlanta.

"What we learned 20 years ago," Franklin says, "may not be exactly what you need to know today."

The Boston Globe's Shirley Leung says Boston 2024 organizers should not be so "squeamish" about getting public help for the Games.

"If hosting the Games will be a catalyst for development that otherwise might never happen, then the city or state should want to help.

Leung adds, "Ambitious proposals from the private sector--whether at Assembly Square or Fan Pier--often get tax breaks or benefit from other public programs.

"Government kicks in because these projects are investments in the region."

FIFA Under Fire

In light of the controversies engulfing world football, media and human rights groups are picking FIFA apart--official by official.

One "curmudgeonly old reporter," the Washington Post says, is responsible for exposing the FIFA scandal that "toppled" Sepp Blatter.

Andrew Jennings, a 71-year-old investigative reporter, published a book titled "FOUL! The Secret World of FIFA: Bribes, Vote Rigging and Ticket Scandals" in 2006.

Sports Illustrated says the book is now selling for crazy prices.

"As of Wednesday, Amazon had three listings for the paperback book.

"Two new copies at $1,496.01 and $2,093.11 respectively and one used copy at--are you ready--$3,783.61."

Washington Post reporter Michael E. Miller, "For the past 15 years, Jennings has focused on FIFA.

"As other journalists were ball watching--reporting scorelines or writing player profiles--Jennings was digging into the dirty deals underpinning the world's most popular game."

The Wall Street Journal's Rory Jones says human rights groups and a labor union are calling on Qatar topublish figures on the number of deaths related to 2022 FIFA World Cup preparations.

"Tim Noonan, director of campaigns at the International Trade Union Confederation, said Thursday that it estimated about 900 foreign workers will die each year in Qatar ahead of the tournament."

Ad Age says major soccer sponsors likeAnheuser-Busch InBev and Coca Cola are "praising" Sepp Blatter's surprise resignation.

On June 2, Blatter sent shockwaves throughout world football after announcing he will resign as FIFA president following an emergency extraordinary congress.

Following the announcement, Anheuser-Busch InBev released a statement saying,"We expect today's announcement to accelerate FIFA's efforts to resolve internal issues, install positive change and adhere to the highest ethical standards and transparency."

John Oliver, host of HBO's "Last Week Tonight," weighed in on Twitter, after previously begging FIFA sponsors to force out Blatter.

Ad Age says the host described Blatter's resignation as an event glorious enough to transform Bud Light Lime from tasting like "a puddle beneath a Long John Silver's dumpster" to "champagne."

Champagne.... pic.twitter.com/1S8shEcN6E

Los Angeles Times reporter Kevin Baxter highlights questions raised by Blatter's shock resignation, and weighs in on whether meaningful reform is possible within FIFA.

"Probably not in the short term," Baxter says.

"Bribery and corruption are so endemic in FIFA that even reformers like former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb have been charged with committing serious crimes."

"But FIFA can go a long way toward cleansing its image by bringing its most important decisions, such as choosing World Cup hosts, out into the open and becoming more transparent in even small, everyday decisions."

TIME.com writer Simon Shuster discusses why certain African football officials see the FIFA probe as imperialist.

"The resignation did not just feel like a squandered election victory to officials like Fikile Mbalula, the South African Minister of Sport," Shuster says.

"It felt like the world of Western imperialists 'parading themselves as world policemen,' he said during a press conference on Wednesday."

Olympian's Bold Reveal

For the first time since completing gender transition, Caitlyn Jenner is speaking publicly in a July issue of Vanity Fair. Jenner took to Twitter on June 1 to express her new-found happiness.

I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me.

Jenner tells author Buzz Bissinger that her emotional two-day photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz for the cover of Vanity Fair to winning the gold medal for the decathlon at the 1976 Olympic Games.

"That was a good day, but the last couple of days were better...This shoot was about my life and who I am as a person.

"It's not about the fanfare, it's not about people cheering in the stadium, it's not about going down the street and everybody giving you 'that a boy, Bruce,' pat on the back, okay. This is about your life."

A petition launched on Change.org this week calls on the IOC to take back Jenner's 1976 decathlon gold medal.

"Actual human beings on Twitter have also gotten involved," Daily Beast writer Amy Zimmerman says.

"Taking time out of their busy schedules of not educating themselves and not dating to argue that a trans woman shouldn’t keep a 'man's' medal."

Art McDermott, public speaker and former discuss thrower, discusses his connection to Caitlyn Jenner in an article on the Huffington Post.

"Jenner hosted her own track meet: The Bruce Jenner Invitational at San Jose City College. It was at this meet in 1984 where I threw what would turn out to be the furthest discus throw of my career.

"When I went up to the awards booth after my big throw, there was Jenner--the legend--just hanging out being the celebrity."

In addressing Jenner's transition McDermott says, "People can show strength under a multitude of difficult situations. Just keep going and you will eventually find the support you need.

"Good luck Caitlyn."

Compiled byNicole Bennett

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